Sporting de Gijon vs Zaragoza preview - Barral highlights importance of game

Sporting Gijon striker David Barral has highlighted this weekend's relegation clash with Real Zaragoza as the biggest match in his six-year stay with the club.

Both sides are locked on 25 points at the bottom of the table, six points from safety, and with a full house expected at El Molinon, Barral believes this is the type of game that players should relish rather than fear.

He told La Voz de Asturias: "This is the most important game in my six years at Sporting because for the team survival in the Primera is everything.

"These are the games that I like. They are the ones that footballers dream of with a full stadium, an extraordinary atmosphere and two teams playing for their lives. It is a game for true and brave footballers."

Javier Clemente will be forced into a change at the back from Sporting's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao last weekend as Alberto Botia is banned and Formose Mendy is an injury doubt, but Nacho Cases and Roberto Canella return from their suspensions and should feature.

Whilst Sporting have failed to gain any momentum since Clemente's arrival six weeks ago, Zaragoza have been on a terrific run of late and won back-to-back matches for the first time all season last week with unexpected victories over Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

However, manager Manolo Jimenez remains cautious and believes it is imperative that his side respond well to the intimidating atmosphere that will await them.

He told a press conference broadcast on the club's website, "It will be a difficult and complicated game, we need to control the atmosphere and I hope that for our part we can pressure them. The stadium will be full of tension."

Franco Zuculini, Pablo Alvarez and Angel Lafita all return from suspension for the visitors, but Maurizio Lanzaro is expected to miss out with a muscle injury.